Minnesota hangs on, beats South Dakota State 16-13

Nov 14, 2009 - 9:58 PM
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- Eric Ellestad's 25-yard field goal with 2:22
remaining gave Minnesota the lead, and the struggling Gophers
hung on for an ugly 16-13 victory over lower-division South
Dakota State on Saturday.

Minnesota (6-5) settled for a pair of short kicks by Ellestad in
the first quarter after driving to the 3- and 8-yard line,
respectively. Adam Weber went 10 for 21 for 94 yards and an
interception that was returned for a touchdown by Derek Domino.

D.L. Wilhite jogged in for a 3-yard touchdown after a fumble
forced by blitzing cornerback Michael Carter, the only time the
Gophers reached the end zone.

Early misfires by freshman quarterback Thomas O'Brien were too
much for the Jackrabbits (7-3) to overcome in just their second
game against a Football Bowl Subdivision foe since moving to the
Football Championship Subdivision level in 2004.

Peter Reifenrath missed a 25-yard attempt in the third quarter,
one of several lost opportunities on a frustrating afternoon for
SDSU.

The Jackrabbits, ranked 12th in the latest FCS poll, need to win
at Western Illinois next week and hope for an at-large
invitation to the playoffs out of the Missouri Valley
Conference.

Despite two interceptions and the lost fumble in the first half
by O'Brien, who got the start over senior Ryan Crawford, SDSU
led 10-6 early in the second quarter, forced the Gophers to punt
eight times, and nearly duplicated what conference rival North
Dakota State did in 2007 with a 27-21 win over Minnesota at the
Metrodome.

After a breakout game in a thrilling 42-34 win over Michigan
State two weeks ago, Weber and the Minnesota offense have
reverted to their season-long woes. Ranked 106th out of 120 FBS
teams in total yards entering the game, the Gophers are missing
injured wide receiver Eric Decker badly and not giving Weber any
time to throw.

The junior quarterback can't shake the blame, though. For the
second straight week, Weber produced the dreaded pick six.
Trying to avoid a sack early in the second quarter, Weber rolled
to his right, then made a dangerous throw across the field.
Domino, one of 10 Jackrabbits players who grew up in Minnesota,
jumped in front of the pass and returned it 22 yards for an easy
touchdown.

O'Brien was sharper after halftime and finished 15 for 39 for
183 yards.

The Gophers played their final home game of the season at
sparkling TCF Bank Stadium, proving again that new buildings
don't make teams better. They became bowl eligible with this
win, but continue to be stuck in mediocrity under coach Tim
Brewster in his third season.

One fan was spotted in the crowd with a sign, "Got Dungy?," a
snarky suggestion that athletics director Joel Maturi should
fire Brewster and try to hire the Super Bowl-winning former
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, who played for the Gophers
in the 1970s.